Millions of people throughout the world have already been vaccinated for COVID-19, and there are many more to come. As for the US, the most affected country in the world by the pandemic, the COVID Data Tracker from the CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reveals that more than 14 million people have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The US and the rest of the world are still struggling with huge numbers of infections and deaths caused by the new coronavirus. Until now, more than 2 million people were killed by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. But even if you get vaccinated, an article from bestlifeonline.com reveals that there’s one specific and huge mistake you can make.
Wait up to 14 days after the second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine
Once someone gets vaccinated for COVID-19, it’s obvious that he’s tempted to return to the same behavior that he had before the pandemic, like socializing as it’s entirely safe. Experts warn that it would be the biggest mistake someone can make right after they get vaccinated.
Stephen Reicher, PhD from the Scientific Pandemic Insights Group, declared for The Guardian:
Some people think the effect of the vaccine is absolutely immediate,
Some people believe that you can’t transmit the disease—and there is a lack of clarity on that from the medical community.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that the highest possible level of protection is achieved after the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine gets injected into the person’s body. It can take up to 14 days after the second shot in order to be fully effective.
Not enough vaccinated people can put others at risk
It’s risky to reenter public life without precautions as long as not enough people got vaccinated.
Eric Lofgren, PhD, an infectious disease epidemiologist from Washington State University, explained for The New York Times:
Immunity is not an on/off switch; it’s a dial,
If you’re below herd immunity, the virus is still happily circulating in the population and there’s always a chance the vaccine isn’t working for you.
But when exactly can the population achieve herd immunity? According to Dr. Fauci, somewhere between 70 and 80 percent of the population being vaccinated will be enough for that goal.
